A/N: Hello everyone - chapter 17 awaits! Hope you enjoy! As always, a very big thanks to you all! See you next Saturday!
Chapter 17: Vengeful
"What's wrong with you, lad? You look as if you've seen a ghost!" Brynjolf's brow furrowed, as Delvin quickly approached him.
"I'm fine, really. I-I just need to call in that favor you owe me, Brynjolf. I need some of our crew, and I need 'em quick, understand?" Delvin spoke, attempting to catch his breath. He had not, in fact, seen a ghost, but he may as well have. That beautiful, fragile, troubled girl he'd come to deeply care for had somehow turned. Into what, he wasn't so sure, but she wasn't the same woman he remembered. He could only hope that her behavior was a result of the severe beating she'd taken. Perhaps trauma had caused Astrid to come so unhinged. He'd also hoped that the effect wasn't permanent.
"At least tell me what it is first, lad! I need to know what I'm getting into." Brynjolf raised a brow, crossing his arms.
"It's for a friend. You remember that slimy fence our guild used to deal with? Reiner was his name. A fella' I know needs him shaken down a bit. We need to rough him up, take his valuables, and tear the whole place apart. I know where the bastard lives, so reachin' him won't be an issue. Like I said, it needs to be as soon as possible, eh? Preferably tonight, when the bloody bloke is at home not expectin' a thing!" Delvin explained, hoping to hurry things along. "Can ya do it?"
"Well, I need to ask Mercer first. He'll want to know why half the guild will be missing for a night. " Brynjolf insisted, stepping away from Delvin.
"By the gods, Bryn! Do we really have to ask permission for every bloody thing we do?" Delvin snapped, exasperated.
"Of course we do, lad! Especially when it comes to using half the guild for a simple favor. Besides, you know how Mercer feels about Reiner. He'd certainly not stop you. Unless, you're trying to hide something. It's not that lady friend of yours, is it? She hasn't returned from that job yet. Is there something you're not telling me, lad?" Brynjolf asked suspiciously.
"This has nothin' to do with the girl, Brynjolf! I'm keepin' her somewhere she'll be safe from that bastard uncle of hers. I told her to sit tight and heal up before she goes tryin' to rob somebody! This is business, and that's that! We'll go talk to Mercer, if it makes ya happy. Just hurry on with it!" Delvin growled, hoping to get to Reiner before Astrid did something she couldn't take back.
Brynjolf narrowed his eyes, as Delvin tried his best not to show signs of deceit in his body language. Part of him knew that Brynjolf wouldn't fully believe his story, but Delvin was hopeful that he'd be lucky enough that his comrade would dismiss his doubts. "Delvin, lad, I've never seen you so worked up over somethin' like this. You sure you're telling me the whole story?"
Delvin sighed, feeling like he was wound so tight he could snap at any moment. "What is there left to tell? Now you've owed me one, and I'm comin' to collect. Are you in or do I have to go about this myself?"
Finally, Brynjolf gave in, leaving Delvin secretly feeling highly relieved inside. "Alright, lad. Come on. Just don't make me regret this..."
Astrid sat in the open doorway, vacantly staring out into the gloomy morning. Rain still poured at a steady pace, both cold and unrelenting. She picked up her uncle's last bottle of wine, taking a generous drink to keep herself as numb as possible.
Her eyes traced over the horizon, while her mind told her she could simply run - far, far away where Reiner would never find her. She could forget about Delvin and his shaky plans for her future. She could forget her mother's tragic and untimely death. She could just dig up her remaining gold, start running, and never look back.
Astrid's vacant gaze began to harden, realizing that she couldn't do that. She didn't want to flee. Fleeing is what Delvin had done - what her mother had done. She didn't want to be anything like them. It was then that Astrid realized that she no longer wanted peace. What she wanted - yearned for was vengeance. She further realized that quick, cutting revenge wasn't going to please her either. No - she wanted to toy with Reiner as much as possible, just as he'd done to her. Risks were a mere footnote, for she couldn't have cared less. It was time she claimed what was rightfully hers, and what she felt truly entitled to at this point - his pain, in any shape or form she could muster to trigger it.
She drank another large gulp of wine, turning behind her to see the old farmhouse in all its disarray. She hadn't lifted a finger to clean it, or cook, or do anything she'd normally be required to do by that despicable monster. He'd just have to do it himself or kill her - that was, if she didn't kill him first.
Astrid stood when she heard his footsteps on the upper-level of the old house. She propped her back on the door facing, holding his wine close to her as she folded her arms across her chest.
He stayed silent as he slowly paced down the stairs, looking even more grimy and disheveled than he usually appeared. The look on his face told Astrid that she'd hit a nerve last night with her little comment about her mother - and she couldn't have felt more satisfied about it.
"Good morning, uncle..." Astrid spoke in a contrived act of politeness, practically tasting the malice in her own voice.
"What in bloody Nirn are you so chipper about? Nothin' good about it..." Reiner growled, seating himself at the kitchen table and rubbing his forehead. "And what are you doing with my drink, niece? Who told you to take my possessions? I damned well didn't tell you to."
"I didn't think you'd mind, uncle, seeing as you have nearly a whole pantry of ale and Skooma. You don't really care for wine that much, I've noticed." Astrid shrugged, taking another long drink from the bottle in front of him, smirking. "Now I see why you love this stuff so much. It really helps with forgetting things. I'm sure you can understand. You may have more regrets than I do." she said, narrowing her eyes.
"What in Oblivion is that supposed to mean, girl? You think you're being funny?" he snapped, while Astrid simply stood, staring into his bloodshot eyes.
"It means exactly as I said. A person like you must have many regrets. You know..." Astrid spoke, slinking over to sit across from him. "To be coexisting together, we know very little about each other, don't you think?"
"What do you care? You gonna try to butter me up so I'll go easy on you from now on? Look, I already know you're a lyin' little wench, so being all chummy with me ain't gonna work, girl." he muttered, glaring at her.
"Why so defensive?" Astrid raised an eyebrow. "Did it ever occur to you that I could possibly be curious?" she inquired, trying to appear as innocent as possible.
"Well, you never seemed to give a rat's arse before, young Astrid. I've dealt with crooks, thieves, and the like for the better part of my life. I can tell a liar when I see one." he snorted. "You may look like Nona, but you sure as Oblivion don't act like her. You got too much of your bloody father in you, niece." he snarled, appearing bitter by simply remembering that man.
Astrid seethed internally, feeling disgusted from being compared to either of those two. Even more so, being compared to her mother, of all people. Her father may have been a monster, but her mother was nothing more than a self-righteous martyr. At least a monster was simply a monster. The latter could be far more dangerous, Astrid reasoned, for the "good" people in her life were the ones that had dealt her the most damage. They were more subtle and devious, dragging her down into harm's way without her realizing it until it was too late.
"I take it my mother was a very kind woman, then." Astrid simply replied, not allowing Reiner to see her true feelings about the matter.
"Yeah, well, she was too kind for her own good." Reiner muttered, his hands clenching into fists. Apparently, the man grew tense just thinking about her. "She let that bastard father of yours take advantage of her. No matter how she was treated, that woman just couldn't say 'no'."
Astrid glared into his eyes, noting the subtle hints of jealousy in Reiner's features. "I guess she never said 'no' to you, either." she provoked. "That is, until she met my father."
"...What?" Reiner shot her a look, his expression a mixture of rage and something unsettling beneath his surface.
"I simply mean that she must have been a very good sister to you, uncle." Astrid remarked, feigning innocence once more.
"Well, she wasn't a damn thing like you, if that says anything!" he spewed, standing up abruptly to get himself a drink. It must have been the memories - the guilt, Astrid mused - that made him want that particular numbing effect. All the ale in Skyrim wouldn't be able to wipe away what he'd more than likely committed.
On the outside, Astrid calmly sat sipping on her wine and appearing indifferent. On the inside, however, she couldn't have been more happy with herself. This side of herself - the one she'd tried so hard to fight - was so freeing. Allowing herself to dive into the darkness was much like seeing life in a whole new way. She could finally travel to the forbidden recesses of her mind, where she could hone in on Reiner and see him for what he truly was. Now, she could slowly wound him on the inside, while waiting for Delvin's crew to wound his external layer. Even more freeing was the fact that if Delvin didn't deliver, she could put an end to Reiner whenever she fancied.
Astrid stared out from her bedroom window at the midday sky, which was still an ominous shade of gray from the stormy weather. Reiner had previously decided to go out to Riften for supplies, leaving Astrid alone for the day. She figured he simply wanted to leave because he was sick of looking at her for the day, and she was quite content with that. He wasn't exactly pleased with her as of late. Not that he ever had been, or ever would be.
She gazed into the distance, wondering just how much abuse her mother had put up with before she built up the courage to finally leave. She then curled her lip in disgust, slowly turning away from the light of day and walking to the vanity in the dim corner of her mother's old room.
She slowly slid a drawer open, pulling out the old Amulet of Mara and dangling it, watching its tarnished form gleam dully in the faint grey light. Her mother had terrible taste in men, Astrid thought to herself. If her father had been the lesser of the two evils, that was certainly saying something. That type of jealousy - the twisted, deluded sickness that etched itself all over Reiner's face - was both diabolical and unnatural. It had no right to be there, festering and spreading about like a plague. He was a sick, disgusting being. If Astrid did have any love left, or pity, it would be for her mother, even if the woman was pathetic.
A loud, urgent knock on the front door caused Astrid to return to the present. She carelessly dropped the amulet back on the vanity and left the room to see what all the ruckus was about. Opening the door, Astrid met eyes with Delvin, who had appeared pitifully worried.
"Yes?" Astrid raised a brow.
"Astrid! Look, I called in a favor. Me an' my people will be here tonight, luv. We'll teach that son of a bitch a thing or two." Delvin glared, his eyes now full of anger. Now, that look suited him much better, Astrid mused, smirking.
"I expect to see good things tonight, Mallory." she warned.
"I take it we're still on a 'last name' basis, then..." he mumbled, seeming disappointed by her reaction.
Astrid simply chose to ignore his negative emotions. "Reiner left earlier today. He should be back by nightfall. I'll be here, too." she hinted, making sure Delvin was aware that she wasn't budging from her position.
"I know, luv. I know..." he sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Look, just don't let my people get a good look at ya - especially Brynjolf. The man's already wary, as it is. Hide if ya have to. It's really best if you stay outside. They're gonna be raiding the whole house. They'll probably find you if you're in there."
"Very well. I'll see what I can do." Astrid spoke, not amused by the idea of missing out on a good view of Reiner's impending doom.
"I...uh...guess that's it, then..." Delvin fumbled about his words, averting his eyes from her. She could sense his uncertainty and hurt, and she chose to ignore that as well. It was certainly more convenient that way.
"That's it," she stated coldly.
"Look, luv. I dunno what's goin' on inside of ya, but I just wanna tell ya that-" Delvin began, only to be promptly cut off by Astrid.
"We can talk more once you keep your word, Mallory." she insisted. "I'll see you tonight."
"Alright, Astrid...I'll see you tonight..." Delvin nodded, looking at the ground, before slowly turning and walking away.
He may have been upset, but Astrid had no room to bother herself over his feelings. She'd simply watch and wait, and hope that Reiner would suffer greatly for his transgressions.
